Know the types of fleece ~ Not all
fleece is created equal!

21st century fleece fabric can be natural or synthetic. Primarily, it is manufactured to be a warm, wooly fabric that keeps us cozy.

So, is the type of fleece you buy at your fabric
store appropriate for your baby's luxuriously soft blanket?

Absolutely. It's synthetic and extremely soft and has a matte of longer fluffy loops on one
side. During manufacturing, the loop side is brushed to raise the
fibers, resulting in its soft texture.

You may find it helpful to check the Tog value of fleece fabric so you can gauge your infant's comfort level. Fabrics have differing Tog values, and when you layer your baby's clothing, the Tog values can add up to a level of overheating. Knowledge is power. Check out Tog values of your infant's wardrobe here.

The rest of this article includes specific bullet lists that will help you to differentiate between various types of fleece.

Characteristics of modern types of fleece

Natural and synthetic fleece fabric either absorb moisture or wick it away from the body very effectively. Also, it is a great insulating material, capable
of keeping baby and you comfortably warm and dry when the temperature
plunges.

Fleece is available in many weights. The heavier weights may
also have loops of various lengths on the same fabric, resulting in a
soft, knobby texture. This could be an attempt to mimic the coat of a real
sheep, its fleece.

Some of the terms you will come across
as you shop for different types of fleece fabric may be a bit confusing. I have compiled
the following information about various fleece monikers from several sites on the web, so that you'll be able to more easily choose what
you want, particularly when buying fleece online, where you can't
reach out and touch it.

Animal fleece ~ is only
called fleece when it's straight from the animal. When it's
processed into usable form, such as yarn or thread for weaving, it is
called wool. So I'll save their properties for another article.

Cotton fleece:

absorbs moisture instead of
wicking it away

prewash before sewing; cotton
shrinks

made in the US or may be imported

often used to make cloth diapers

Cotton sherpa:

absorbent

warm, soft, fuzzy

prewash before sewing; cotton
shrinks

appropriate for baby blankets or
for lining clothing

(The word sherpa comes from the name of
an ethnic group in northern Nepal. They live in the Himalayas and are
mountaineering experts. We all know that it can get downright cold
up in the mountains! I'm sure their clothing reflected the need for wooly warmth!)

Types of Fleece ~ Conclusion

Although most people will choose the
softer of the fleeces for their baby blanket DIY project, any of the
myriad types of fleece can be utilized depending upon the effect you
want for your blanket. For tips on sewing with fleece, click here.

Use your imagination! I'm thinking maybe a
sherpa fleece with a licensed jersey fleece backing (if I can find one) for taking baby
out to the ball game! Rah, rah! Go team!

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